Miguel Zenon
Encyclopedia
Miguel Zenón is an alto saxophonist, composer
and bandleader
.
, Puerto Rico
. While studying at the Escuela Libre de Musica in San Juan
, he won a scholarship to the “Berklee in Puerto Rico” program of the Berklee College of Music
and a scholarship to attend Berklee College in Boston
. While at Berklee, Zenón became immersed in jazz
and began performing with drummer
Bob Moses’ Mozamba and the Either/Orchestra
. After completing his undergraduate degree, Zenón moved to New York, where he was awarded a scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music
, graduating with a Masters Degree in 2001.
After gaining initial attention as a sideman
in the ensembles of Ray Barretto
and David Sánchez
, Zenón organized his own band in 2001, featuring pianist
Luis Perdomo, bassist
Hans Glawischnig and drummer
Antonio Sanchez (replaced in 2005 by Henry Cole). The quartet’s first recording, Looking Forward, was released by Spain’s Fresh Sounds/New Talent label in 2002. A year later, Zenón became one of the first artists signed by saxophonist Branford Marsalis
’ new label Marsalis Music
, which has subsequently released Ceremonial in 2004; Jibaro
, an homage to the rural folk music
of Puerto Rico
composed with grant support from the New York State Council of the Arts, in 2005; and Awake, a collection of original compositions in which Zenón’s quartet is supplemented by a string quartet
and horns, in 2008. In addition to his own quartet, Zenón has maintained affiliations with several other leading jazz groups, including the SFJazz Collective, of which he is a founding member; Charlie Haden
’s Liberation Music Orchestra
; and Guillermo Klein
’s Los Gauchos. Zenón has also participated extensively in jazz education programs, including the New School in New York, Canada’s Banff Centre
and the touring Marsalis Jams program.
Among his many awards, Zenón was named a Kennedy Center Jazz Ambassador and toured West Africa
in 2003, won the Rising Star Alto Saxophone award in the Down Beat
Critics Poll in 2004-6 and 2008 and the Best New Artist award in the JazzTimes
Readers Poll in 2006, and received a Guggenheim
grant to compose an extended work on the subject of Puerto Rican plena
music in April 2008. He was one of 25 recipients of a MacArthur Foundation
“genius grant” in September 2008. His 2009 release, Esta Plena was nominated for a Grammy as Best Latin Jazz Album.
Miguel is signed to the Cambridge, MA based record label, Marsalis Music
.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
.
Biography
Miguel Zenón was born in San JuanSan Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. While studying at the Escuela Libre de Musica in San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, he won a scholarship to the “Berklee in Puerto Rico” program of the Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
and a scholarship to attend Berklee College in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. While at Berklee, Zenón became immersed in jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and began performing with drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Bob Moses’ Mozamba and the Either/Orchestra
Either/Orchestra
The Either/Orchestra is a jazz group formed by Russ Gershon in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, in 1985. E/O is configured as a "small big band", with three saxes, two trumpets and one or two trombones...
. After completing his undergraduate degree, Zenón moved to New York, where he was awarded a scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music
Manhattan School of Music
The Manhattan School of Music is a major music conservatory located on the Upper West Side of New York City. The school offers degrees on the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition...
, graduating with a Masters Degree in 2001.
After gaining initial attention as a sideman
Sideman
A sideman is a professional musician who is hired to perform or record with a group of which he or she is not a regular member. They often tour with solo acts as well as bands and jazz ensembles. Sidemen are generally required to be adaptable to many different styles of music, and so able to fit...
in the ensembles of Ray Barretto
Ray Barretto
Ray Barretto was a Grammy Award-winning Puerto Rican jazz musician.-Early years:Barretto was born in New York City of Puerto Rican descent...
and David Sánchez
David Sánchez
David Sánchez may refer to:*David Sánchez , saxophonist*David Sánchez Amezcua, Mexican football player*David Sánchez Rodríguez, Spanish football player*David Sánchez , Spanish tennis player...
, Zenón organized his own band in 2001, featuring pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
Luis Perdomo, bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Hans Glawischnig and drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Antonio Sanchez (replaced in 2005 by Henry Cole). The quartet’s first recording, Looking Forward, was released by Spain’s Fresh Sounds/New Talent label in 2002. A year later, Zenón became one of the first artists signed by saxophonist Branford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis is an American saxophonist, composer and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ensembles and has led the group Buckshot LeFonque.-Biography:Marsalis was born...
’ new label Marsalis Music
Marsalis Music
Marsalis Music is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based record label founded in 2002 by saxophonist Branford Marsalis, one of the most celebrated jazz musicians of the past 30 years. The label was formed to allow Marsalis and other musicians to document their music free of the commercial constraints...
, which has subsequently released Ceremonial in 2004; Jibaro
Jíbaro
Jíbaro is a term from the Taíno words "jiba" and "ro", that means forest people, commonly used in Puerto Rico to refer to mountain-dwelling peasants, but in modern times it has gained a broader cultural meaning.-History:...
, an homage to the rural folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
composed with grant support from the New York State Council of the Arts, in 2005; and Awake, a collection of original compositions in which Zenón’s quartet is supplemented by a string quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
and horns, in 2008. In addition to his own quartet, Zenón has maintained affiliations with several other leading jazz groups, including the SFJazz Collective, of which he is a founding member; Charlie Haden
Charlie Haden
Charles Edward Haden is an American jazz musician. He is a double bassist, probably best known for his long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman...
’s Liberation Music Orchestra
Liberation Music Orchestra
Liberation Music Orchestra is a jazz album by Charlie Haden, released in 1969 . It was Haden's first album as leader.The inspiration for the album came when Haden heard songs from the Spanish Civil War...
; and Guillermo Klein
Guillermo Klein
Guillermo Klein is an Argentine pianist and composer.He graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1994, and throughout the 1990s held a residency at Smalls, a jazz club in New York City. Known for his highly original harmonic and stylistic concepts, Klein has garnered much respect from the jazz...
’s Los Gauchos. Zenón has also participated extensively in jazz education programs, including the New School in New York, Canada’s Banff Centre
Banff Centre
The Banff Centre, formerly known as The Banff Centre for Continuing Education, is an arts, cultural, and educational institution and conference complex located in Banff, Alberta...
and the touring Marsalis Jams program.
Among his many awards, Zenón was named a Kennedy Center Jazz Ambassador and toured West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
in 2003, won the Rising Star Alto Saxophone award in the Down Beat
Down Beat
Down Beat is an American magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond" to indicate its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chicago, Illinois...
Critics Poll in 2004-6 and 2008 and the Best New Artist award in the JazzTimes
JazzTimes
JazzTimes is a magazine that dates back to Radio Free Jazz, a publication founded in 1970 by Ira Sabin when he was operating a record store in Washington, DC. It was originally a newsletter designed to update shoppers on the latest jazz releases and provide jazz radio programmers with a means of...
Readers Poll in 2006, and received a Guggenheim
Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...
grant to compose an extended work on the subject of Puerto Rican plena
Plena
Plena is a folkloric genre native to Puerto Rico. Its creation was influenced by African and Spanish music.-History:The music is generally folkloric. The music's beat and rhythm are usually played using hand drums called panderetas, but also known as panderos or pleneras. The music is accompanied...
music in April 2008. He was one of 25 recipients of a MacArthur Foundation
MacArthur Foundation
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the United States. Based in Chicago but supporting non-profit organizations that work in 60 countries, MacArthur has awarded more than US$4 billion since its inception in 1978...
“genius grant” in September 2008. His 2009 release, Esta Plena was nominated for a Grammy as Best Latin Jazz Album.
Miguel is signed to the Cambridge, MA based record label, Marsalis Music
Marsalis Music
Marsalis Music is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based record label founded in 2002 by saxophonist Branford Marsalis, one of the most celebrated jazz musicians of the past 30 years. The label was formed to allow Marsalis and other musicians to document their music free of the commercial constraints...
.
Discography
- Alma Adentro: The Puerto Rican Songbook, 2011
- Live 2010 7th Annual Concert Tour w. SFJAZZ Collective, 2010
- Live 2009 6th Annual Concert Tour w. SFJAZZ Collective, 2009
- Esta Plena, 2009
- Paoli Mejias, 2008
- Live 2008 5th Annual Concert Tour w. SFJAZZ Collective, 2008
- Filtros, w. Guillermo Klein, 2008
- Panorama, w. Hans Glawischnig, 2008
- Awake, 2008
- Live 2007 4th Annual Concert Tour w. SFJAZZ Collective, 2007
- Live at The Jazz Gallery w. The Jason Lindner Big Band, 2007
- Live 2006 3rd Annual Concert Tour w. SFJAZZ Collective, 2007
- Spheres of Influence Suite w. Brian Lynch, 2006
- Transcend w. Paoli Mejias 2006
- Jíbaro, 2005
- Last Quarter Moon w. Chiara Civello, 2005
- Ceremonial, 2004
- Los Guachos w. Guillermo Klein, 2002
- Landmark w. Mika Pohjola and Ben Monder, 2002
- Still Alive w. Mika Pohjola and Ben Monder, 2001
- Looking Forward, 2001
- Edu Tancredi & Bandon 33, 1998
External links
- Miguel Zenon's artist page
- "Miguel Zenon: Jazz Sherpa " by Lawrence Peryer (AllAboutJazz.com), October 10, 2011 - extensive interview
- "In Conversation with Miguel Zenón" by Tomas Peña (Jazz.com), March 25, 2008
- a review of "Awake" from Jazzchicago.net (http://jazzchicago.net), 2008
- San Francisco Jazz Collective - official site on sfjazz.com, 2008